Chapter 1

AN: Let me clear things up before we get into this. This is in an dystopian au where the Earth is no longer livable and humans go into space (yes, I know it is clique). Centuries later they send people down there is collect remnants of human culture. Archaeologists from space, technically. Okay, you have some backstory, onto the actual story~!

- Irene POV -

"Okay team, we've done this about a hundred times now. Smith and Scerri, you two take the east of the city. Jones and Watney, you go to the west. Ivers and Dalton go south. Kirkland and I will stay around here so I can show her the ropes. Meet back here in three hours." The Commander called to the other members of the squad.

I was excited, since it was my first mission to the Surface, as we back at Base called it. I adjusted my oxygen mask before heading out into the open air of the city. I looked around the ruined buildings and dried plant life, they told us back at Base they were going to a city called 'Paris' and it was the capital of a country that was once known as 'France'.

"Oi, Kirkland! We aren't here to sight see!" The Commander shouted, snapping me out of my dazed state "We are here to collect the last of Human Culture here on the Surface. Let's start with that fancy looking building and see what we can salvage." Her tone quickly turned from harsh to kind, something got used to quickly as it was in her nature.

As we walked to the building, I noticed that despite its ruined nature, it must have been quite a beautiful piece of architecture back before the Fallout happened. I heard the Commander stop and looked to see her scanning the building. I hadn't been issued my own scanner yet, but I knew that members of the team used them to identify buildings and items they found. Soon, I heard a small beep and a synthetic female voice started speaking from the device.

The Louvre Palace, a former royal palace, the Louvre is a famous art museum. Its origins date back to the medieval period, and its present structure has evolved in stages since the 16th century. It was the actual seat of power in France until Louis XIV moved to Versailles in 1682, bringing the government with him. It was mostly known for holding famous art pieces such as the Mona Lisa.

The Commander noticed me listening in on the information, looking up and giving me a cheeky grin before closing the device. "Bit of history for you there, Kirkland." She looked over at the building in awe "So this is the Louvre Palace. I've heard stories about it that had been passed down in my family but I never knew I would get to see it." I looked at her with a surprised expression on my face, which made her laugh

"I'm not that uptight, Kirkland. Down here on Earth we find that we can do whatever we want, as long as we bring enough stuff back. So call me Bianca while we are down here, okay? And also, this is just on the Surface, once we get back on our ship back home you address me as Commander, got it." I nodded and followed her into the Palace.

Despite its ruined state, it was quite beautiful inside the building, though I still had to watch my step for rocks and rubble. I looked at Bianca for further instructions since well, I didn't know where to go. My expression of confusion caused Bianca to laugh again.

"Okay Irene, you take that side of the building" She pointed towards our left, then pointed to the right "and I will go that way. Just shout if you find anything or are in danger. Meet back here in an hour." I nodded and went in that direction.

- Time Skip; 15 minutes -

I kept walking along the halls, using my flashlight to make out things I couldn't see properly. The were beautiful painting around, some on the ground and others still somehow in tact on the walls. I saw a few that were broken in half and others were in scattered pieces around the floor. I wasn't looking where I was going and ended up tripping over a small rock that was in my way.

"Shit" was the only word I said as I lay on the ground with my face in the dirt. I eventually lifted my face up and looked up to see a small bracelet sitting not to far from where I was. I hoisted myself up and bent down to pick up the piece of jewelry. Examining it closer, I noticed small engravings spelling out words, it was a phrase in a language I had never seen before.

Spiritum videre oculis nationum (Forgive me if this is incorrect, I used Google Translate)

"Huh, weird." Looking at it closer, I saw twelve gemstones. I recognized them from my general knowledge class. In order, there was Garnet, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Ruby, Peridot, Sapphire, Opal, Topaz and Turquoise. Somehow, they were still shining as if the Fallout and all those centuries of neglect never happened, which when I though about it, shouldn't be possible.

I slipped on the bracelet under my suit, deciding I would keep it as a reminder of my first mission down to the Surface. The only odd thing that happened, was after I put on the bracelet. I started hearing voices, voices I shouldn't be hearing since there were no more people on the Earth. I stayed quiet as I listened in on the conversation.

"Damn, the last person I ever wanted to be paired with is you."

"Eh? Stop stealing my lines stupid Brit."

"Aiyaa, shut up, I'm here too you know-aru."

"Oh right, sorry China. Now where did I drop it?"

"We wouldn't be in this situation if you didn't drop it in the first place!"

"Are you trying to imply something, frog?"

"I don't know, maybe it depends if you think that way."

"Why you-!"

"I'm going to continue looking if you two don't mind-aru."

That was the point I kept walking, I didn't want the people I heard to think I was listening in. Heck, I'm not sure if they even knew I was there. As I was walking, I kept thinking over an over why I could suddenly hear those voices, I could still hear them as two of them kept shouting at each other in the distance. Over time I found myself at the end of the hall, where there was nothing but a blank space and a plaque underneath reading 'The Mona Lisa'

I sighed and went back around, I hadn't found anything interesting enough to bring back nor that I could carry. I eventually found Bianca as she dragged a few paintings over to the door.

"Didn't you find anything?" I shook my head, and she softly smiled at me "It's okay, people don't usually find much on their first mission, since you aren't used to looking for stuff yet."

She looked out the door and saw a few of the team members assembled at the ship "Perhaps we should head back home now. C'mon Irene, it's not like you're never going to see this place again."

I nodded and followed her out the door and back into the ship, pushing the thought of those voices into the back of my mind.

AN: Chapter 1 done! Let me know what you think and see you in the next chapter! Also, if you like it, why not favourite this and add it to your library? And this story is also going to go up on Wattpad, if you wanna read it there! Imma stop talking now, bai O w O